Staff from the CMHC, Office of the Dean of Students, University Health Services, University Unions and campus partners celebrated BeVocal‘s 3rd Birthday on April 26. BeVocal is UT Austin’s bystander intervention initiative that teaches students how to recognize potential harm and respond to the situation. Other UT System schools have modeled UT Austin’s program. CHMC’s Marian Trattner will lead the program as BeVocal coordinator, transitioning from her role as the department’s suicide prevention coordinator. Check out the photos.

Marian Timm and Xiaoxia Song at Feel Good Friday

Staff hosted Mental Health Promotion Week April 10–14 to give students a break from the busy pace of the semester. The signature event, Texas Mental Health Monologues, took place on April 11. Students shared their stories of living with a mental illness and how it has impacted their lives. Other highlights included night-time glow yoga and coffee talk with Tejas Club members on self-compassion. See the photos from Feel Good Friday on April 14.

Katy Redd, former Texas Senator Wendy Davis, Rachel Vaughn and Lauren White at Take Back the Night

Raising awareness for sexual assault prevention efforts, staff hosted Sexual Violence Prevention Month during April. The events provided a call to action for UT Austin students to join efforts to educate the campus community about sexual violence prevention and resources. Voices Against Violence partnered with former Texas Senator Wendy Davis for the annual signature event, Take Back the Night. See the photos. Check out interviews In the News.

A total of 4,600 housing contracts have been signed and 650 additional contracts went out to students on April 15.

Residence Life staff hosted “Lunch with the Res Life Bunch” on April 13. Staff from Services for Students with Disabilities and the Student Emergency Services shared trends in student behavior during this busy time of the semester.

Residence Life staff and College of Education faculty hosted a lunch for resident assistants on April 13 to discuss ways to create community and understand diversity.

Sustainability staff partnered with the Office of Sustainability to host the annual Earth Week Staff Luncheon on April 19. The team hosted several other Earth Month events, including Kinsolving Garden Open House and UT Farm Stand.

Incoming students received an email with instructions for watching pre-orientation videos produced by NSS. Freshmen are required to watch six videos, while transfer students are required to watch three.

A total of 6,334 students have registered for Freshman Orientation. The first session begins June 5.

Orientation advisors will participate in a two-week training workshop May 24–June 4 to prepare for Freshman and Transfer Orientation.

Summer Orientation Support Staff (SOS), a group of returning Orientation Advisors who help new students and families adjust to university life, will participate in a one-day retreat on May 22.

Staff hosted Evening of the Stars on April 18 to honor student organizations. This annual celebration recognizes groups and student leaders for their accomplishments and the contributions made throughout the academic year.

Staff met with the 2017-2018 student leaders at the Legislative Student Organization (LSO) Welcome Orientation on April 24. LSOs include Graduate Student Assembly, Senate of College Councils and Student Government.

Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly celebrated the 2017 Dean’s Dozen, thirteen students recognized for supporting Office of the Dean of Students programs and contributing to the campus community.

Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly, President Gregory Fenves and Senior Associate Vice President and Recreational Sports Director Tom Dison at the Vice President for Student Affairs Reunion

VPSA staff welcomed students, alumni, staff and friends to the Vice President for Student Affairs Reunion, hosted in association with the Office of the President. The event celebrated Recreational Sports’ centennial anniversary.

Carol Longoria (right) with Glenn Singleton at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

Carol Longoria attended Beyond Diversity: Courageous Conversations about Race at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs on April 7 and 8. Glenn Singleton, founder of the Pacific Education Group, led this two-day seminar for students, alumni, faculty and staff.

VPSA staff partnered with the Office of the President and Human Resources to honor the Student Employee of the Year and 10 finalists on April 10. CMHC, DHFS and Recreational Sports employ four of the finalists. Watch the video about the winner. View the photos.

Tom Dison, Soncia Reagins-Lilly, former Student Government President Kevin Helgren and President Greg Fenves cut the ribbon to the new fields.

Staff celebrated the grand re-opening of the Charles Alan Wright Fields at the Berry M. Whitaker Sports Complex on April 21. Special guests included President Gregory L. Fenves, Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly, Gary and Sylvie Crum, the family of Stephanie A. Flores, Frances and Ross Vick, Jr., Custis Wright, and members of the Legal Eagles and the Women’s Rugby Alumni Network. See the photos from the Grand Opening.

Staff have launched a new Texas Parents Association membership structure providing a complimentary membership for all families. Families can also sign up for a supporting membership, making a gift to Texas Parents. Supporting members receive additional benefits including access to the Texas Parents closed Facebook group, discounts with local and national vendors and opportunities with Texas Athletics.

Ashley Lawrence and Laurie Alvarado at the Texas Parents Ambassadors Council meeting

Texas Parents is preparing for Family Orientation, a day-long program that introduces families to the university and to resources that support their student’s successful transition to UT Austin. The first session is set for June 5. To promote the program, an informational postcard was mailed to the families of 16,000 admitted freshmen.

Recognizing their students, parents purchased 139 brick pavers for the Student Services Building Plaza. Texas Parents laid 16 bricks in honor of students lost in the last year and six for members of the UT Austin community.

Texas Parents will mail the New Parent Guide to 8,500 freshman families this month. The magazine is designed to be a resource to introduce them to university resources and policies.

Staff held the annual Spring Luncheon on April 15 in the Texas Union. Staff recognized graduating seniors from six UT System collegiate recovery programs. Purple honor cords were given to these students. Speakers talked about the center’s history, the journey of the UT System-wide expansion, and students’ academic and recovery journeys. Check out the photos.

CSR hosted the UT System-wide Collegiate Recovery Expansion workshop. Staff shared best practices with colleagues from UT Dallas, UT Rio Grande Valley, UT San Antonio and UT Tyler. The workshop is an opportunity to provide guidance and mentorship to emerging programs at these five UT System schools.

Staff from CMHC, DHFS, RecSports and UHS came together with campus partners for the Wellness Network meeting on April 21. This campus-wide coalition is committed to addressing the health and wellness needs of UT Austin students, faculty and staff. Check out the photos.

Staff are seeking expertise to develop strategies to enhance the student experience in UHS facilities and hired a consulting firm to review their funding system. The consultation identified best practices of peer institutions and relevant trends in student health, considering various healthcare reform scenarios and analyzing UHS visit data. UHS leadership and campus stakeholders met with the nationally-recognized experts in college health.

UHS has received the highest level of accreditation on each inspection since 1999 from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Surveyors visited UHS last month for the triennial survey. This voluntary process ensures patients receive quality care in a safe environment. UHS has maintained accreditation since 1957.

Staff recognized two students for their contributions to the campus community at a luncheon on April 21. Read about the recipients of the J. “Jake” Pickle Citizenship Award and the Pal — Make a Difference Award. Check out the photos.

Staff and students at the appreciation luncheon in the Student Activity Center (SAC) Ballroom.

Staff hosted an appreciation luncheon for student employees on April 14 as part of National Student Employee Appreciation Week. Students received customized thank-you notes and other gifts. See the photos.

Texas State’s Lyndon B. Johnson Student Center staff visited with the hospitality desk team on April 7 to observe, learn and share best practices.

A UT Print station is available to students, faculty and staff in the Student Activity Center (SAC) near Taco Cabana and on the Texas Union’s ground level.

DRYBOX® machine at the Texas Union

DRYBOX® is available to students, faculty and staff at the Texas Union. The automated self-service machine removes moisture from a wet phone in 30 minutes.

The south sidewalk in front of the SAC has reopened as of April 17, as Speedway construction moves north.

Staff are supporting the university’s sustainability efforts by having Chick-fil-A and Starbucks compost food waste. The Texas Union has enhanced signage about composting and recycling bins.